Report: Liberman Seeks Defense Portfolio

Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman is reportedly set to demand a high price for his joining Netanyahu's new coalition.

Moshe Cohen, 18/03/15 18:17

Avigdor Liberman

Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Despite receiving only six seats in the new Knesset, Yisrael Beytenu head and outgoing Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman is reportedly set to demand a high price for his joining Binyamin Netanyahu's new coalition: an appointment as Defense Minister.

According to the NRG news site, sources in the party said that Liberman was set to meet with Netanyahu on the matter within the next day or two.

With that, the sources said, Liberman is likely to join Netanyahu's coalition even if he is not given the Defense portfolio.

After the meeting, the sources said, Liberman plans to take a few days off overseas, as he has done after previous election campaigns.

According to the sources, Liberman and Netanyahu discussed the Defense portfolio in the days leading up to the election, but did not come to any agreement.

With that, they said that the talks were “positive.” It is expected that the two will be able to come to a coalition agreement, as there are prestigious alternatives to the Defense portfolio, such as chairmanship of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Intelligence Minister, etc.